Vision Zero
Eliminating Traffic Deaths and Serious Injuries
Vision Zero means zero traffic fatalities or serious bodily injuries. The Safe System Approach is our process for achieving Vision Zero.
Vision Zero = Safer Intersections
Vision Zero = Safer for All Road Users
Vision Zero = Safer Crossings
Vision Zero = Safe Multimodal Streets
Safe Systems: DOTI’s Approach to Reaching Vision Zero
Denver's Safe System approach makes safety the highest priority for all investments. It recognizes that people will inevitably make mistakes. And it anticipates them by designing and managing systems – road infrastructure, vehicles, and related policies – to keep the risks of mistakes less severe. And when a mistake leads to a crash, a safe system lessens the severity of impacts on the human body and decreases the likelihood of severe injuries or death.
Use the slider below to see how a typical Denver intersection transforms into a safe-systems one. Learn more about each safety countermeasure: 1. Transit lane | 2. Pedestrian refuge island | 3. Bike separated lane | 4. Reflective backplate signals, pedestrian signals and increased signal time for pedestrians to cross
Denver Moves Everyone
Denver Moves Everyone 2050 is the citywide Strategic Transportation Plan for the Department of Transportation & Infrastructure that aligns our resources with our collective goals to achieve Denver’s transportation vision.
DME 2050 goals both align and reflect Vision Zero with 235 miles of new high-comfort bicycle facilities, 134 miles of upgraded bicycle facilities and much more.
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High Injury Network & Safety Focus Areas
Denver has a defined a High Injury Network (HIN) representing dangerous streets in need of safety improvements. This network highlights the streets within the city that have disproportionately high rates of traffic crashes resulting in death or serious bodily injury. Within the HIN Vision Zero Safety Focus Areas have also been identified and are considered areas of the city that are in a traffic safety emergency and require immediate work.
Safety Focus Areas tend to include stretches of multilane roadways with high numbers of people walking, biking and using micromobility alongside high vehicle flows and speeds.
Denver Vision Zero Action Plan(PDF, 14MB)
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are we aiming for zero deaths and serious injuries?
Setting a goal of Vision Zero — safe mobility for all — will only be effective through fundamental changes and a long-term shift to a Safe System approach. Implementing safe-system solutions such as redesigning roads and lowering speed limits in safety focus areas are important first steps to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries. Our long-term safety vision implements continued cultural and structural shifts that will improve and evolve based on changing conditions in the city. We aim for safety for ALL and zero is the only acceptable number.
Why do we continue to see fatalities and injuries — are we failing?
Speeding is the most significant factor in the likelihood of severe injury or death in a crash. Recognizing this, DOTI is implementing citywide street upgrades to combine reduced posted speed limits with street design changes to effectively reduce travel speeds. Beyond street design, Denver is educating drivers on safe driving behavior such as not driving distracted and adhering to the speed limits.
As Denver implements the Safe System approach and Vision Zero principles we see improvements to safety.
View the case studies
Do other cities commit to Vision Zero? How does Denver compare?
Yes, there are 59 cities, including Denver, in the U.S. committed to Vision Zero. Denver sits in the middle of the pack compared to similarly sized cities in terms of the number of traffic related deaths. It has eight traffic deaths per 100,000 people, which is below the national average of 11. While Denver is above the national average, striving toward zero traffic deaths is our goal.